[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 66 (Friday, April 16, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E411-E412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF SHIRLEE LAFLEUR
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HON. FREDERICA S. WILSON
of florida
in the house of representatives
Friday, April 16, 2021
Ms. WILSON of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the
life and legacy of Shirlee Lafleur a beloved mother, wife, daughter,
sister, friend, a community leader in South Florida, and a longtime
member of my staff.
Shirlee Moreau was born on November 10, 1969, in Miami Beach, Florida
to Eugenie V. Moreau and Avenant Moreau, Sr. She was the second of
three children born to this union.
Shirlee found her true purpose in life on January 26, 2002, when she
laid the foundation for one of the most beautiful and God-blessed
families by marrying Pierre Paul Lafleur. Their love produced two
talented and amazing daughters, Amanda and Samantha around whom they
centered their lives, and who like their parents excel in the classroom
and in the many activities in which they take part. While Shirlee was
dedicated to helping others, she was even more devoted to her two
blessings from God, always glowing and excited when talking about them.
God touched Shirlee in a very special way and she, in turn, touched
the lives of so many others. A faithful member of Antioch Missionary
Baptist Church, led by Reverend Arthur Jackson, III., she was very
proud of her membership and was not shy about inviting others to find
solace in the bosom of Christ. Shirlee had a very close and personal
relationship with Christ. Her faith was grounded in belief in Psalm
18:2, ``The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God,
my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my
salvation, and my high tower.''
Shirlee was especially proud of her American and Haitian heritage.
She fought tirelessly for the rights and well-being of Haitians
throughout the diaspora and was an unparalleled leader in the Haitian
community and at the forefront of immigration issues, given Miami's
unofficial status as the second capital of Haiti due to its large
concentration of people of Haitian heritage. It was her Haitian roots
and strong cultural beliefs in the importance of faith, family, and
friends instilled in her by her mother, Eugenie Moreau, that made her
such a dogged advocate for others.
Shirlee was an outstanding student at North Miami High School.
Although she was quiet, she was well liked for her friendly nature and
helpful attitude that would become the trademark of her life. As a
flagette of the North Miami marching band, she began to blossom into
the social butterfly that she would later become.
After graduating from high school, Shirlee continued to excel
academically earning a degree in business administration from Florida
International University. Even more impressive, Shirlee worked while in
college to support herself, which is indicative of her independent
spirit. Upon graduation, she developed what initially began as an
internship into a permanent supervisory position with Dade's Team
Metro. She was a natural for the position which required her to help
Miami Dade residents resolve often complex issues with county services.
In 1998, she elevated her burgeoning career in public service by
accepting a position as a legislative assistant in the office of then-
Florida State Senator Kendrick B. Meek. Shirlee's commitment to helping
her community shone even brighter as a member of Senator Meek's staff
and she continued to be one of his most trusted staff members when he
ascended to the United States House of Representatives.
Shirlee played a prominent role in several incidents that made
national and international headlines. She was the central cog to many
of the life-changing efforts that the congressional office undertook
during her tenure. She was integral in helping to facilitate the
efforts to liberate the nearly 300 Nigerian schoolgirls, known as the
Chibok Girls, kidnapped by Boko Haram as part of the international
#BringBackOurGirls campaign that I had pledged to wage until all of the
girls are returned home. Shirlee helped coordinate documentation and
travel for several of the girls who escaped their captors to find safe
havens and a brighter future in the United States.
This effort was not the exception, but the norm. She worked through
the night many times to stave off a deportation of parents who were
casualties of a sometimes-harsh immigration system. Families were
reunited and their stories made headlines, but Shirlee, a central
figure in turning miraculous efforts into reality, was soon on to the
next challenge within only a few minutes. Without exaggeration, her
work has saved the lives of thousands who have sought refuge in our
great nation.
In one of the rare times she was unable to avoid the spotlight, she
was recognized in a May 2013 Miami Herald article for organizing an
eleventh-hour effort to prevent a father from being ripped from his
family and deported to Mexico. When an 18-year-old asked at a town hall
meeting if there was anything that could be done to save his father who
was set to be deported at 4 a.m. the following morning, I was initially
stunned by the short window within which there was to work, but knew
that if anyone could keep this family together, Shirlee could. Needless
to say, she did and as the article noted as a true testament to her
commitment, ``Shirlee Lafleur called everyone.''
[[Page E412]]
Beyond immigration, Shirlee helped save the homes of countless
families in South Florida and staved off evictions and foreclosures by
connecting families with services that were able to provide the help
they needed. Most telling of Shirlee's ability, is that many of the
resources that she connected families with were not on the federal
level. She was so well respected and her assistance so trusted and
valued that many people turned to her first to connect them with the
appropriate local agency, knowing she would follow up to make sure
their issue had been resolved.
Shirlee was a congressional staffer for more than two decades and her
loss has created a major void. The thousands of lives that she has
touched and the even more connections she has made will remain a
testament to the erstwhile presence of a one-in-a-million personality.
Shirlee was a champion for teachers, seniors, workers, and the most
vulnerable members of our community.
Shirlee transitioned into the presence of God on March 22, 2021. She
leaves to cherish her fond memories, her devoted husband, Pierre
Lafleur, beautiful daughters, Amanda and Samantha, father, Avenant
Moreau, Sr., mother, Eugenie Moreau, brother, Avenant Moreau, Jr.,
sister, Mirlanda M. Russ (Travelis), sister-in-law, Marie J. Pyram,
nephews, Christien A. Moreau and Gabriel R. Allende, nieces, Nathalie
and Justina Pyram, and great-niece, Skylyn G. Allende, countless
extended family and friends, and thousands of others upon whose lives
she made a positive impact.
Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Ms. Shirlee Moreau Lafleur
for all that she has done for our community and the lives of the many
she has touched.
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